Arab al-Bawati عرب البواطي/خربة الحكمة | |
|---|---|
Village | |
| Etymology: Kh. el Hakeimîyeh, the ruin of el Hakeimîyeh[1] | |
.jpg) 1870s map.jpg) 1940s map.jpg) modern map.jpg) 1940s with modern overlay mapA series of historical maps of the area around Arab al-Bawati (click the buttons) | |
  Arab al-Bawati Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:32°31′41″N35°32′21″E / 32.52806°N 35.53917°E /32.52806; 35.53917 | |
| Palestine grid | 200/214 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Baysan |
| Date of depopulation | 16 or 20 May 1948[4] |
| Area | |
• Total | 10,641 dunams (10.641 km2 or 4.109 sq mi) |
| Population (1945) | |
• Total | 520[2][3] |
| Cause(s) of depopulation | Influence of nearby town's fall |
Arab al-Bawati (Arabic:عرب البواطي/خربة الحكمة), was aPalestinianArab village in the District of Baysan. It was depopulated during the1948 Arab-Israeli War.
It was located 4 kilometres north east ofBaysan in the Baysan valley.
In 1882, thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine describedKh. el Hakeimiyeh as having "ruined walls and a few modern deserted houses – a small deserted village".[5]
In the1922 census of Palestine, conducted by theMandatory Palestine authorities, Bawati had a population of 348 Muslims,[6] increasing in the1931 census to 461 (under the name of 'Arab Hakamiya), still all Muslims, in 86 houses.[7]
In the1945 statistics it had a population of 520 Muslims[2] with a total of 10,641dunums of land.[3] That year Arabs used 2,225 dunams of village lands for plantations and irrigated land, 3,335 for cereals,[8] while 52 dunams were classed as uncultivable.[9]
Many of the villagers left early in the war, apparently after aHaganah attack.[10][11]The village was destroyed on May 16, or May 20, 1948.[4] Following the war the area was incorporated into theState of Israel and the land was left undeveloped; the nearest village isHamadia.
In 1992, it was described: "All of the village houses have been demolished. The remains of basalt stone walls and the square and circular foundations of buildings can be seen among the weeds."[12] Evidence of historic occupation includes Roman milestones and ruined buildings at theKhirbat al Bawati.[12]
